Relative Organ Research Articles

PROCALCITONIN VS C-REACTIVE PROTEIN: COMPARISON AS MARKERS OF SEVERITY IN SEPSIS- A HOSPITAL BASED OBSERVATIONAL STUDY FROM NORTH EAST INDIA.

BACKGROUND: Sepsis is a life-threatening organ dysfunction caused by the dysregulation of a host's response to infections (1) which is further complicated by an altered metabolic state.Both CRP and Procalcitonin are accepted sepsis markers. But there is still some debate regarding the correlation between their serum concentrations and sepsis severity. MATERIALS AND METHODS A prospective observational study was carried out in patients >18 years with sepsis and meeting the inclusion and exclusion criteria for a period of 6 months from 1st September 2021 to 28th February,2022.The severity of sepsis related organ dysfunction was assessed by the SOFA score on day 1.Patients were categorized into 4 groups according to SOFA score as group 1 (0-6),group 2 (7-12),group 3 (13-18) and group 4(19-24). Serum PCT and CRP concentrations were measured on day 1 RESULTS A total of 50 patients presenting with sepsis were studied. The mean serum PCT concentration(ng/ml) in 4 SOFA groups was 7.61,28.47,40.16,85.09(p value<0.001) respectively. The mean CRP concentration (mg/ml) in 4 SOFA groups was 157.63,152.85,144.24,64.66 respectively (p value 0.13). Mean SOFA score was higher among patients who died (11.33±5.66) than those who survived (6.71±3.57) and the difference is statistically significant(p<0.001).The mean PCT (ng/ml) and CRP (mg/l) concentration in those who survived were 17.88 and 149.30 respectively and in those who died were 35.28(p value<0.001) and 160.46 (p value 0.167) respectively. The linear correlation between PCT plasma concentrations and the four categories was much stronger than in the case of CRP (Spearman's Rho,0.483 vs -0.197;p<0.001) CONCLUSION SOFA score and serum PCT concentration show significant correlation with respect to severity of organ dysfunction and outcome in sepsis patients compared to serum CRP concentration

Optimization of Extraction Process, Preliminary Characterization and Safety Study of Crude Polysaccharides from Morindae Officinalis Radix.

In this study, the hot water extraction process of crude polysaccharides from Morindae officinalis radix (cMORP) was conducted and optimized through a single-factor test and orthogonal experimental design. With the optimal extraction process (extraction temperature of 80 °C, extraction time of 2 h, liquid/solid ratio of 15 mL/g, and number of extraction of 1), the cMORP was obtained by the ethanol precipitation method. The chemical properties and preliminary characterization of the cMORP were analyzed by chemical or instrumental methods. Furthermore, to indicate a preliminary study on safety, a single oral dose of 5000 mg/kg body weight (BW) was administered orally to Kunming (KM) mice for acute toxicity, and the cMORP was administered orally to KM mice once a day at doses of 25, 50, and 100 mg/kg BW for 30 days. General behaviors, body weight variations, histopathology, relative organ weights, and hematological and serum biochemical parameters were observed and recorded. The results suggested there were no toxicologically significant changes. Based on the safety study, cMORP can be initially considered non-toxic with no acute oral toxicity up to 5000 mg/kg BW and safe at up to 100 mg/kg BW in KM mice for 30 days.

Using machine learning methods to predict 28-day mortality in patients with hepatic encephalopathy

BackgroundHepatic encephalopathy (HE) is associated with marked increases in morbidity and mortality for cirrhosis patients. This study aimed to develop and validate machine learning (ML) models to predict 28-day mortality for patients with HE.MethodsA retrospective cohort study was conducted in the Medical Information Mart for Intensive Care (MIMIC)-IV database. Patients from MIMIC-IV were randomized into training and validation cohorts in a ratio of 7:3. Training cohort was used for establishing the model while validation cohort was used for validation. The outcome was defined as 28-day mortality. Predictors were identified by recursive feature elimination (RFE) within 24 h of intensive care unit (ICU) admission. The area under the curve (AUC) and calibration curve were used to determine the predictive performance of different ML models.ResultsIn the MIMIC-IV database, 601 patients were eventually diagnosed with HE. Of these, 112 (18.64%) experienced death within 28 days. Acute physiology score III (APSIII), sepsis related organ failure assessment (SOFA), international normalized ratio (INR), total bilirubin (TBIL), albumin, blood urea nitrogen (BUN), acute kidney injury (AKI) and mechanical ventilation were identified as independent risk factors. Validation set indicated that the artificial neural network (NNET) model had the highest AUC of 0.837 (95% CI:0.774–0.901). Furthermore, in the calibration curve, the NNET model was also well-calibrated (P = 0.323), which means that it can better predict the 28-day mortality in HE patients. Additionally, the performance of the NNET is superior to existing scores, including Model for End-Stage Liver Disease (MELD) and Model for End-Stage Liver Disease-Sodium (MELD-Na).ConclusionsIn this study, the NNET model demonstrated better discrimination in predicting 28-day mortality as compared to other models. This developed model could potentially improve the early detection of HE with high mortality, subsequently improving clinical outcomes in these patients with HE, but further external prospective validation is still required.

Phytochemical component and toxicological evaluation of purple sweet potato leaf extract in male Sprague-Dawley rats.

This study assessed the toxicity of lutein-rich purple sweet potato leaf (PSPL) extract in male Sprague-Dawley rats. Methods and study design: A total of 54 adult male Sprague-Dawley rats were used. For the acute toxicity study, three rats in the acute control group were fed 2,000mg/kg of PSPL for 14days. The subacute toxicity study included six rats each in four groups administered 50, 250, 500, or 1,000mg/kg for 28days and observed for further 14days without treatment in the subacute control and subacute satellite groups. Changes in body weight; blood biochemistry; hematological parameters; relative organ weight; and histological sections of the heart, kidney, liver, pancreas, aorta, and retina were observed for signs of toxicity. Results: The gradual increase in weekly body weight, normal level full blood count, normal liver and kidney profile, relative organ weight, and histological sections of all stained organ tissue in the treated group compared with the acute, subacute, and satellite control groups demonstrated the absence of signs of toxicity. Conclusion: Lutein-rich PSPL extract shows no signs of toxicity up to 2,000mg/kg/day.

Hydroxychloroquine and Mortality in SARS-Cov-2 Infection; the HOPECovid- 19 Registry

Background: Hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) may be an effective, safe, and affordable treatment for Covid-19 that can be used in selected patients. However, more evidence on its association when it is used in different stages of the disease with clinical outcomes is required. This observational study investigates the association between treatment with HCQ and mortality in patients with Covid-19. Methods: The data from 6217 patients who died or were discharged from 24 Spanish hospitals were analyzed. Propensity matching scores (PMS) were used. Results: 5094 patients received HCQ. Death was recorded for 17.5% of those who had HCQ and 34.1% of those who did not have it. Mortality was lower for those who had HCQ, OR=0.41 (95% CI=0.34-0.48). The PMS analysis also showed that mortality was lower for those receiving HCQ, OR=0.47 (95%CI=0.36-0.62). PMS analysis for categories revealed an association between HCQ and lowered mortality for patients over 65 years of age, with a past medical history of hypertension, for those who were diagnosed during admission with sepsis related organ failure or pneumonia, and for those with lymphocytopenia, raised troponin, LDH, ferritin and D-dimer. No increase in mortality associated with HCQ was observed in any category of any of the variables investigated. Conclusions: HCQ could be associated with lower mortality for older patients, those with more severe disease and raised inflammatory markers. Further RCTs, observational studies, and summaries of both types of evidence on this topic are necessary to select the precise profile of patients that may benefit from HCQ.

Assessment of Oral Acute Toxicity of Thai Dendrophthoe pentandra (L.) Miq. Leaf Extracts in Wistar Rats

Southeast Asian nations, particularly Thailand, have long employed the leaf portions of Dendrophthoe pentandra as traditional medicines. However, there is no report on their safety assessment. This study sought to determine the acute toxicity of Dendrophthoe pentandra leaf extracts in male and female Wistar rats. The OECD 420 guidelines were followed in performing the acute toxicity investigation. The extracts were given orally to male and female Wistar rats once at doses of 5, 50, 300, and 2,000 mg/kg. Within 24 hr of dosing and up to 14 days following the tests, the acute toxicity symptoms and mortality rates were recorded. The body weights were measured in week 0, 1 and 2. At the end of the experiments, internal organ weights were recorded. Additionally, the blood biochemistry, liver and kidney histology, and hematological parameters were investigated. Body weight and relative organ weight were unaffected by any of the extract doses. All of the treatments cause the rats to gain weight. Rats given the extracts orally showed no changes in hematological parameters. All experimental groups' rat lipid profiles were comparable. Rats in all experimental groups had similar blood biochemical values. Additionally, liver and kidney tissues did not contain any signs of inflammation. There was no difference in the histology of liver and kidney in rats treated with the extracts. The results showed that Dendrophthoe pentandra leaf extracts were at the dose studied. It was advised to consume Dendrophthoe pentandra leaf extracts at dose of more than 2,000 mg/kg.

Sub-Acute Toxicological Evaluation of Methanol Leaf Extract of Nymphaea lotus Linn (Nymphaeceae) in Wistar Rats

Nymphaea lotus has been used for centuries as an astringent, aphrodisiac, sedative, analgesic, anti-inflammatory, and for the treatment of infectious diseases. This study is aimed at evaluating the subacute toxicity profile of methanol leaf extract of Nymphaea lotus in Wistar rats. Rats were administered the crude methanol leaf extract orally for 28 days at 250, 500, and 1,000 mg/kg. Weekly body weight, food, and water intake were recorded. On the 29th day, the rats were sacrificed, and their hematological and biochemical parameters were assessed, as well as histological examination of the kidney, liver, stomach, and intestine. The extract had no effect on the body weights, relative organ weights, or food and water intakes of the animals. It had no impact on hematological markers at the tested doses (hemoglobin, packed cell volume, red blood cell, white blood cell, mean corpuscular hemoglobin, mean corpuscular volume, and platelets concentration), except for alkaline phosphate, which was significantly (p≤0.01) greater at the 500 mg/kg. There was no significant effect on liver function parameters evaluated (total bilirubin, direct bilirubin, alanine aminotransferase, aminotransferase, and aspartate). Urea, creatinine and chloride levels were significantly elevated (p≤0.01 and p≤0.05) at 250 and 500 mg/kg doses, but not at the 1,000 mg/kg dose. Histopathological evaluation of the liver, kidneys, stomach, and intestine revealed no notable histological abnormalities. Based on the results, the methanol leaf extract of Nymphaea lotus appears to be generally safe when taken orally at these doses.

Role of aerosol liquid water content on the production of dicarboxylic acids in the dust-laden air masses over the Arabian Sea: Implications for heterogeneous chemistry

Oxalic acid and the related organics are ubiquitous water-soluble constituents of ambient organic aerosols (OA). Their molecular distributions and relative abundances provide crucial insights on the secondary OA formation processes in the marine atmosphere and are important for understanding the cloud-aerosol interactions. Here, we measured the concentrations of dicarboxylic acids, pyruvic acid, ω-oxocarboxylic acids and α-dicarbonyls alongside aerosol chemical composition in the South Asian outflow to the Arabian Sea. Oxalic acid (C2) was the most abundant dicarboxylic acid followed by succinic (C4) and malonic (C3) acids; this distribution is typical of “less aged OA”. Oxalic acid levels correlated well with aerosol liquid water content (ALWC) and non-sea-salt (nss)-SO42− (a tracer of coal combustion influence), suggesting an important aqueous phase oxidation of successive higher homologs. This was inferred based on the prevailing inverse relationships between the relative abundances of oxalic acid in total aliphatic dicarboxylic acids and those of malonic, succinic, glutaric, adipic, and azelaic acids. Likewise, the concentrations of glyoxal (Gly: a major compound emitted from vehicular exhaust) and glyoxylic acid (ωC2) correlated strongly with C4, nss-Ca2+ (dust tracer) and elemental carbon (EC: a combustion tracer from biomass/fossil-fuels). These observations suggest gas/particle partitioning and subsequent aqueous phase oxidation of Gly to ωC2 and then elongation (oligomerization) to succinic acid associated with the mineral dust particles. This means relative abundances of anthropogenic SO42− in the dust-laden air masses govern the secondary OA formation over the Arabian Sea.

TO STUDY EFFECTIVENESS OF DEFERASIROX, AN ORAL IRON CHELATOR IN BLOOD TRANSFUSION DEPENDENT PEDIATRIC THALASSEMIA PATIENTS

Background: Inblood transfusion related thalassemia patients, high iron state is observed because of regular blood transfusion. Our body has limited mechanism to excrete iron, excess of iron gets deposited in various organs causing their dysfunction. To prevent the complication associated with this iron overload use of iron chelators becomes important in management of such patients. Aims /Objectives: 1.To determine effectiveness of deferasirox, an oral iron chelator to decrease iron overload in reference to serum ferritin level in blood transfusion dependent pediatric thalassemia patients. 2.To determine effectiveness of deferasirox in reducing iron deposition induced organ damage. Methods: This is a hospital based retrospective observationalstudy conducted on 80 blood transfusion dependent thalassemia patients admitted in tertiary care hospital. Data was collected in pre-designed case record sheets after taking consent from parents. Results:in the present study the mean age was 7.12 years for females and 10.93 years for males. The mean of pre and post blood transfusion hemoglobin was significantly higher (7.07 and 10.76 respectively). The mean blood transfusion days are 26.33. Mean annual blood requirement is 198.99. Mean drop rate is 1.02. On comparing mean ferritin levels, there was a significant difference between baseline (711.81), start of deferasirox treatment (1271.71) and the end of 2nd dose increment of deferasirox (2076.11). The mean ferritin decreased significantly after starting deferasirox (from 1360.03 to 1271.71) by the end of1stdose increment (from 1832.41 to 1696.75) by the end of 2nd dose increment (from 2097.32 to 2076.11) , but when we compare mean ferritin after end of 2nddose increment of deferasirox (2076.11) with6 month back mean ferritin (2506) or current mean ferritin (2514.90) there is increase in ferritin.Mean blood transfusions at start of deferasirox is (11.025), at 1st dose increment is (26.13), at 2nd dose increment is (42.12).There were no organ complications seen with the present population at the end of the study Conclusion: from the results of our study, we state that using deferasirox as oral iron chelator in blood transfusion dependent pediatric thalassemia patients helps in reducing iron overload till we reach maximum dose of oral deferasirox but beyond that there is significant increase in serum ferritin level,thereby necessitating use of another iron chelator along with oral deferasirox(either deferoxamine, deferiprone or some new iron chelator),. Also in this study it is observed that there is no iron deposition related significant organ damage.

Safety Evaluation of bioactive Sub-Fraction of Lawsonia inermis Linn leaves in Male Wistar Rats

This study evaluated the safety of bioactive labelled sub-fraction of Lawsonia inermis in male Wistar rats. Twenty male rats ‎were used for this study of five rats per group. Three groups were administered methanol bioactive sub-fraction of Lawsonia ‎inermis at 2.5, 5 and 10 mg/kg for fourteen days while control received distilled water orally. Physiological weight increased in ‎all treatment groups. The group fed with 10 mg/kg had the highest weight gain compared to other treatment groups and the ‎control. Relative organ weight of the heart, liver, kidneys, testes and pancreas did not increase (p>0.05) in all the treatment ‎groups except the pancreas in the group fed with 5 mg/kg that increased significantly (p<0.05). The sperm count in rats fed at ‎dose rate of 10 mg/kg increased significantly (p<0.01) compared to other treatment groups. There were no significant ‎differences in sperm motility, volume and live/dead ratio in the treatment groups compared to control. Haematological ‎parameters such as, PCV, RBC, WBC and haemoglobin concentration were not significantly different compared to control. ‎The AST increased significantly (p<0.01) while urea and creatinine decreased significantly (p<0.001) in group fed with 2.5 ‎mg/kg. 5 mg/kg showed significant reduction (p<0.05) in total protein, urea and ALP while ALT increased significantly. Serum ‎chloride ion at the dose rate of 2.5 mg/kg decreased significantly (p<0.05) when compared with other treatment groups. ‎Sodium ion (Na+) decreased significantly (p<0.01), while Bicarbonates (HCO3-) increased significantly in the 5 mg/kg group. It ‎was concluded that the bioactive sub-fraction of Lawsonia. inermis was safe at the administered dosages.‎

The Chronic and Acute Toxicity of Traditional Medicines Containing Terminalia chebula

Terminalia chebula, the main ingredient of Altan Arur 5, has been used for many years in traditional medicine. This medicine is more effective than other drugs and is used to treat chronic gastritis and gastrointestinal disorders such as peptic ulcers and esophageal reflux. Other ingredients of Altan Arur 5 are Punica granatum (pomegranate), tulip seeds, black balm, and excreta of Trogopterus xanthipes. The main ingredients of T. chebula are antibacterial and analgesic in traditional medicine. Despite having been used for many years and although many studies have been conducted on the beneficial effects of this medicine and its ingredients, the toxicity of Altan Arur 5 has not yet been elucidated. Therefore, we aimed to study the toxicity of Altan Arur 5 to ensure that it is safe to use. Acute and chronic toxicity of Altan Arur 5 were assessed in 10 Kunming mice and 8 Sprague-Dawley rats, respectively, in different doses. In the acute toxicity study, Altan Arur 5 was orally administered to Kunming mice in doses of 12 g/kg, 24 g/kg, and 48 g/kg for 14 days. In the chronic toxicity study, it was orally administered to Sprague-Dawley rats in doses of 1.25 g/kg, 2.5 g/kg, and 5 g/kg for 12 weeks. No significant differences were observed in the relative organ weights for mice treated with Altan Arur 5 compared with those in the control group. Furthermore, no macro- or microstructural changes were noted in the organs of any group. Our toxicity testing revealed that the traditional medicine Altan Arur 5 has no toxic effects in vivo.

Acute toxicity of ethanol extracts of Gynura divaricata L. leaves on DDY mice

Gynura divaricata (L.) DC., a traditional medicinal herb, has been used for the treatment of many diseases such as bronchitis, pulmonary tuberculosis, pertussis, toothache, rheumatic, arthralgia, uterine bleeding and diabetes in folk medicine. Despite its widespread use, studies on its toxicological characteristics are still very limited. The aim of this research is to observe the acute toxicity of ethanol extract of Gynura divaricata on Deutscland Denken Yoken (DDY) mice. The acute toxicity of ethanol extract of Gynura divaricata leaves was evaluated by giving it orally to DDY mice at single doses of 625, 1250, 2500, and 5000 mg/kg bodyweight. Animals were observed for mortality, body weight changes, macroscopic organ and relative organ weight for the next 14 days, and analyzed with ANOVA and Duncan post hoc test (p<0.05). The results shown ethanol extract of Gynura divaricata leaves did not caused deaths. The gross necropsy analysis did not reveal changes of the organs. Ethanol extract of Gynura divaricata also did not cause significant change in relative organ weight. In conclusions, ethanol extract of Gynura divaricata leaves acute administration were safe at the dose used ethnomedicinally and practically non-toxic. Higher doses may involve toxicological risks.

Heteroaromatic salvinorin A analogue (P-3 l) elicits antinociceptive and anxiolytic-like effects

Previous studies have attributed the prominent analgesic, hallucinogenic, sedative, and anxiolytic properties of Salvia divinorum to Salvinorin A. However, the overall pharmacological profile of this isolate limits its clinical applications. To address these limitations, our study evaluates the C(22)-fused-heteroaromatic analogue of salvinorin A [2-O-salvinorin B benzofuran-2-carboxylate] (P-3l) in mice nociception and anxiety models while assessing possible mechanism of action. In comparison with the control group, orally administered P-3l (1, 3, 10, and 30 mg/kg) attenuates acetic acid-induced abdominal writhing, formalin-induced hind paw licking, the thermal reaction to the hotplate, and/or aversive response in the elevated plus-maze, open field, and light-dark box; and potentiates the effect of morphine and diazepam at sub-effective doses (1.25 and 0.25 mg/kg, respectively) without eliciting significant alterations in relative organ weight, or haematological or biochemical parameters. The in vivo blockade of P-3 l effects by naloxone (non-selective opioid receptor antagonist), naloxonazine (antagonist of specific subtypes mu1 of μ-OR), and nor-binaltorphimine (selective ĸ-OR antagonist) supports initial results from binding assays and the interpretations made possible from computational modeling of the interactions of P-3 l with the opioid receptor subtypes. In addition to the opioidergic mechanism, the blockade of the P-3 l effect by flumazenil suggests benzodiazepine binding site involvement in its biological activities. These results support P-3 l potentially possessing clinical utility and substantiate the need for additional pharmacological characterization.

Effect of Rhodiola rosea Rhizome and Punica granatum Fruit Peel on the Metabolic Processes and Physiological Activity of Rats Fed with Excessively Fat Diet.

Rhodiola rosea (golden root) and Punica granatum (pomegranate), as well as a number of other species of medicinal plants, exert an array of biological effects: adaptogenic, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory. However, there are not enough contemporary studies of their influence on metabolic processes, especially in cases of imbalanced diet. Lipid dysregulation is the main reason for many diseases, including obesity, cardiovascular disorders, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, hypertension, atherosclerosis and insulin resistance. Recently, a growing amount of evidence has suggested the positive effects of certain natural nutrients on lipid metabolism. The work aims to define the general effect of golden root rhizome and pomegranate peel on physiological activity and metabolic processes in model animals fed with excessively fat diet. This study is relevant for the development of drugs and food additives for treatment and prophylaxis of metabolism disorders. In a 30-day experiment, we determined the effect of golden root (Rhodiola rosea L.) rhizome and pomegranate (Punica granatum L.) peel on the physiological activity and metabolic processes of 24 laboratory rats consuming a high-fat diet. The physical activity was evaluated according to the mass gain of animals and change in the relative mass of the internal organs, and also the functional conditions of the central nervous system, as demonstrated by the indicators of the locomotor activity and emotional status, determined in the open field test. The influence on the metabolic processes was revealed by biochemical and clinical blood analyses. Body mass of rats fed with golden root (R. rosea) reached 125.8 % of the initial body mass; when fed on pomegranate (P. granatum), it reached 123.9 %; and the control group reached only 111.5 % of the initial body mass. The rhizomes of R. rosea in the diet of male rats during the month of the experiment did not cause significant changes in the relative organ mass, and the pomegranate peel fruits led to a decrease in the thymus relative mass, as well as liver and brain. R. rosea rhizomes in the rats' diet led to an increase in the activity of alkaline phosphatase, and also to a decrease in the concentration of urea and urea nitrogen. Diet supplemented with R. rosea also contributed to a strong decrease in plasma concentrations of bilirubin and triglycerides (up to 57.0 % compared with the concentration in the control group). The rhizomes of R. rosea contributed to an unreliable decrease in the atherogenicity index. The pomegranate peel also greatly increased alkaline phosphatase activity and reduced plasma triglyceride concentrations. In addition, in rats consuming the peel of P. granatum, blood glucose concentration decreased. Under the influence of P. granatum, a strong increase in the atherogenic index of plasma (up to 518.6 % of the control) was observed because of a decrease in the concentration of high-density lipoproteins (up to 57.1 %) and a simultaneous elevation of the concentration of low-density lipoproteins (up to 158.3 % of the control). Open field test between groups remained without significant changes. The results indicate that the rhizome of R. rosea and peel of P. granatum are safe as food additives to high-fat diet and did not cause pathological changes and side effects, and at the same time significantly influence the metabolic processes (lipid and carbohydrate). Our study theoretically substantiates the use of R. rosea rhizome and P. granatum peel for the production of nutraceutical and pharmacological products for the correction of metabolic disorders of people and animals. Doses and periods of their application require further research.

Transcriptome analyses reveal differentially expressed genes associated with development of the palatal organ in bighead carp (Hypophthalmichthys nobilis)

The palatal organ is a filter-feeding related organ and occupies a considerable proportion of the head of bighead carp (Hypophthalmichthys nobilis), a large cyprinid fish intensive aquaculture in Asia. In this study, we performed RNA-seq of the palatal organ during growth periods of two (M2), six (M6) and 15 (M15) months of age after hatching. The numbers of differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were 1384, 481 and 1837 for M2 VS M6, M6 VS M15 and M2 VS M15 respectively. The following signaling pathways of energy metabolism and cytoskeleton function were enriched, including ECM-receptor interaction, Cardiac muscle contraction, Steroid biosynthesis and PPAR signaling pathway. Several members of collagen family (col1a1, col2a1, col6a2, col6a3, col9a2), Laminin gamma 1 (lamc1), integrin alpha 1 (itga1), Fatty acid binding protein 2 (fads2) and lipoprotein lipase (lpl), and Protein tyrosine kinase 7 (Ptk7) are candidate genes for growth and development of basic tissues of the palatal organ. Furthermore, taste-related genes such as fgfrl1, fgf8a, fsta and notch1a were also identified, which may be involved in the development of taste buds of the palatal organ. The transcriptome data obtained in this study provide insights into the understanding functions and development mechanisms of palatal organ, and potential candidate genes that may be related to the genetic modulation of head size of bighead carp.

Growth performance, intestinal morphology, and carcass traits in broiler chicken fed Conocarpus erectus leaf meal

This study evaluated the effects of adding Conocarpus erectus leaf meal to the diet on the perfor-mance, carcass traits, organ weights, and intestinal morphology of broiler chicken. A total of 396 one-day-old Ross 308 broilers were assigned to nine treatments, which included 0, 0.25%, 0.5%, 0.75%, 1%, 1.25%, 1.5%, 1.75%, and 2% C. erectus leaf meal addition to the broiler diet. Feed and bird weights were recorded weekly. On slaughter day, the weights of carcasses and organs were individual-ly reported using a digital scale as well as the intestine samples were pooled for tissue analysis. High levels of C. erectus leaf meal reduced (P<0.01) body weight, body weight gain, and feed conversion ratio. The basal diet and 0.25% C. erectus leaf meal diet reported higher (P<0.01) body weight and body weight gain than did the other treatments. Birds fed 0.25% C. erectus leaf meal supplementation performed similarly to those fed the basal diet. Significantly, with increasing amounts of C. erectus leaf meal in the diets, there was a linear slope decrease in live weight and body weight gain as well as a linear slope rise in the values of feed intake and feed conversion ratio. Carcass trait and relative organ weights were not altered among the dietary treatments. Feeding 1% C. erectus leaf meal diet decreased (P<0.01) relative abdominal fat weight compared to birds fed the control diet. Birds fed dietary C. erectus treatments had higher (P<0.01) villus height, villus width, crypt depth, and lower villus height/crypt depth ratio than did birds fed the control diet. In conclusion, the study indicated that feeding 0.25% C. erectus leaf meal showed no deleterious effects on the growth performance of the broiler. Growth performance and intestinal morphology were linearly reduced when broilers were fed up 2% of C. erectus meal.

Don't sugar coat it: The independent and synergistic impacts of obesity and gestational diabetes on placental parameters.

Don't sugar coat it: The independent and synergistic impacts of obesity and gestational diabetes on placental parameters.

Sensitivity and Stability Analysis of Tuberculosis Disease with Infectious Latent

Tuberculosis (TB) is a dangerous contagious disease which can even lead to death if no control measure is applied. The disease is caused by mycobacterium which generally affects lungs and other related organs such as lymph gland, intestine, kidneys, uterus, bone and brain. The spread of TB occurs via the bacteria contaminated air which is inhaled into the lungs. Cough, chest pain, shortness of breath, appetite loss, weight loss, fever, cold and fatigue are some of the symptoms of TB. However, we proposed a mathematical model to investigate the transmission dynamics of tuberculosis and it is investigated analytically that the endemic equilibrium point is stable with the help of Routh-Hurwitz criteria. The sensitivity analysis shows that there would be an epidemic if and only if β≈β^1, where β^1≤0.1. Finally, using Matlab, it is shown that the disease free equilibrium is unstable which the endemic equilibrium becomes stable beyond 60 days. In addition, the recovered population increased rapidly while the exposed population decreased steeply in the disease-free equilibrium. It is an indication that there will be no outbreak of the tuberculosis infection. Besides, an increased in the effective contact rate increases both the infected population and recovered population. It is equally inferred that the recovered population do not show a trend pattern as ∝ increases while the susceptible and infected populations increased and decreased respectively as ∝ is increased. The recovered population showed no response pattern for ∝ since recovered individuals do not obtain permanent immunity.

Nanoparticle toxicity may cause testicular dysfunction

Nanoparticle toxicity may cause testicular dysfunction

Subchronic Toxicological Evaluation of Xiushui 134Bt Transgenic Insect-Resistant Rice in Rats

In this study, Xiushui 134Bt, a highly insect-resistant rice transgenic material with stable expression of CryIAc1 gene in rice plants and no significant changes in main agronomic traits, was obtained by means of Agrobacterium-mediated transformation method using japonica rice Xiushui 134 as receptor material. Biosecurity of the transgenic rice Xiushui 134Bt was assessed by rat feeding experiments. Wistar rats were fed a nutritionally balanced diet supplemented with 35% Genetically Modified (LGM) or 70% Genetically Modified (HGM) Xiushui 134Bt, respectively, for 90 days. Compared with the wild-type group (Xiushui 134), there were no significant differences in body weight, total food intake, food conversion rate, relative organ weight, blood routine, blood physiological or biochemical parameters, or histopathological examination between LGM and HGM Bt groups (p > 0.05). These results indicate that the transgenic rice Xiushui 134Bt is non-toxic in laboratory animals and provide guidance for the future commercial release of the transgenic rice Xiushui 134Bt in China.